§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he would state to the House who has been appointed by the Board of Works to superintend the preservation of the National Monuments in Ireland; what has been his profession, and whether he has made the ancient architecture of Ireland a subject of previous study; and, whether the Chief Secretary will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the Instruction under which the officer is to act?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that the hon. Gentleman was probably not aware that this matter was under the control of the Treasury, and not of the Irish Government. An architect by profession had been appointed to superintend the preservation of national monuments in Ireland. He could not say whether a copy of the instruction given to this officer had been laid on the Table; but his duty would be to preserve the national monuments, and not to restore them.